'You do need to listen': CNN host spars with GOP congressman over Iran reports

CNN anchor Kate Bolduan slapped down Congressman Mike Turner’s (R-OH) accusations that the outlet did not provide accurate information on the bombing of an Iranian nuclear facility in a live TV interview Thursday morning.

“Real quick,” the anchor said, “The ayatollah did issue his first statement since the Iran-Israel ceasefire went into effect and said quite a bit, said quite a bit, saying that victory over a fake Zionist regime in Israel, but also said as part of this, the Americans did not gain anything in this war.”

Bolduan asked, “What do you make of a statement like that from the ayatollah?”

“I think that's what's really unfortunate about the last couple of days of reporting,” Turner said, deflecting to answer the question. “Where the, you know, the leaked report was given weight. That is just not, you know, valid for the speculation that was coming from it because the where it was promoted as if it was even accurate or, you know, a true assessment of Iranian capabilities and a failure on the, on the part of this military action because it really bolsters the ayatollah."

The congressman later added, “You know, clearly he has been diminished. His regime has been diminished significantly. It is time now for Iran to move forward as a diminished regime, where the opportunity for peace is here, and it should take that opportunity.”

Bolduan then defended the network's reporting. “We've got to go... amd we are going to move past this because I'm going to reiterate one more time, as we as I did throughout the last hour, congressman, what we heard from Hegseth and what you what you were implying about CNN’s coverage of the DIA assessment, what we heard in the outrage over it is confirming what CNN reported from the beginning.”

“Though it might not be reporting that you enjoy or that the administration enjoys. I listed it out specifically, reading from parts of CNN's reporting.” She went on to say, “We reported that sources said the judgments were of low confidence that it was not coordinated with the wider intelligence community. I could go on and read it, but I already did that once in the last hour.”

“You can characterize it that way,” the congressman snaked.

“I'm not characterizing it–,” Bolduan attempted to reply before the two began speaking over each other.

After a brief, heated interaction, Bolduan regained control of the situation. “Congressman. I'm reporting exactly what our reporting was online and on air throughout this. You can hear part of it and not like it, but you do need to listen to all of it too.”

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